How do you get front wheels straight before setting Toe-In

jwilliams81

jwilliams81

Senior Member
If you were looking at the car from a bird's eye view, and one wheel has more toe-in or toe-out while the other wheel is perfectly point straight ahead, what do you adjust?

How do you guys get both wheels straight before setting the toe-in?
What do you measure against?

Do you eyeball each wheel straight ahead, and then adjust each end of the tie-rod evenly with the other end until you can drop the tie-rod onto both wheels?

What are some other ways to make sure both wheels are pointed ahead before you start setting Toe-In?

Toe-In I understand... but how do you make sure one wheel isn't pointed more in or out before you even start.
 
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It's not a modern car,you can't drop the tie rod ends into a precise hole.You just loosen the clamps on each tie rod end,and turn the tie rod to adjust in or out.One has a right hand thread,and the other a left hand thread.Also not like a modern car,you can't adjust the right and left independently.You don't get to adjust the steering wheel to center like a modern car either.When you do adjust the toe in,using whatever method you like best,it has to be done with the weight of the car on the wheels,not jacked up.After turning the tie rod,you have to roll the car to get it accurate.
 
the only way to get both wheels straight, if they are not, is to start both ends at the same time, best done with the tie rod and ends removed from the steering arms. Thread each end one complete turn and place the tie rod with ends on the steering arms, adjust them and then turn tie rod the get the toe-in you want. Hope the steering arm balls are round, if not, they should be replaced, and that's another story.
 
I was thinking about removing the tie-rod. Eye balling both wheels straight.

Then screw in each side of the tie-rod in equally while still off the car... until the bar ends are close to lining up with the steering arm balls.

Then reattach the tie-rod and go to town setting the toe-in.
 
The caster setting controls the path of each front wheel. When the car moves forward the pivot point is in front of the wheel and it will naturally go straight. You just roll the car forward and it will self-correct into a straight forward condition.
Like when you turn a corner and release the steering wheel it will automatically straighten out.
So just drive it in as straight as you can and then let go of the steering wheel for about a car length and it will self-correct and that will be as close as you can get it.
 
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take a piece of string , tie to a rear spoke , turn front wheel till string touches front & rear edge of tire, then take to other side , tie too a rear spoke , pull string to front wheel
it will touch the back of the tire ,so then measure the gap between tire & string at front edge , this will give toe in or out (if gap is at the rear ) simple , works for me, still cool in NZ
 
BILL WILLIAMSON said:
Some of this is SO CONFUSING! Why not take it to an Alignment Shop & have the WHOLE Front End aligned?
Bill W.
Click to expand...

I agree with Bill. As I have mentioned before, $49.95 is money well spent.

When we had our 29 done two years ago, the dealer did not want to charge us because of the crowd it had attracted. We still paid him. Car drives down the road as straight as an arrow. Steers like it has power steering once moving. You can very easily drive along using just one hand. No shimmy ever and they checked everything for looseness or other potential problems.

It is a hobby, but these are still real cars being driven on public roads.

Do it or have it done right the first time.
 
not quite the answer to your question, but I put a shortened pitman arm on my pu, and the steering wheel was not centered when wheels were straight ahead. the arm was not made correctly. the shortened arm on my roadster is right on center.
 
quickchange said:
take a piece of string , tie to a rear spoke , turn front wheel till string touches front & rear edge of tire, then take to other side , tie too a rear spoke , pull string to front wheel
it will touch the back of the tire ,so then measure the gap between tire & string at front edge , this will give toe in or out (if gap is at the rear ) simple , works for me, still cool in NZ
Click to expand...
Or 2 LOOONG 2 X 4s, tied to the spokes.
Bill Carpenter
 
I like to sight down the tire from the front edge to the rear edge, near the centerline. Using the rear tire as reference, I try to just not quite see the rear of the front rim on each side, that's usually close.
 
Center the steering wheel then align the wheels. when you obtain the correct toe in the wheels will be in alignment.
 
Soooooo.......are you saying I have been doing my alignment wrong because my steering wheel is not correct? My steering wheel is not in the "X" position after aligning the front end. I have never seen that part of alignment in any book but sure seems reasonable as I can't easily see my speedometer while driving. The only question I have is if I center the steering wheel, the wheels will be to the right or left, will the alignment process bring them back to straight ahead position?
 
Just adjust your front wheels for proper toe in. Your wheels will always self center so that the toe will always be equal between both sides. You can’t drive with one wheel straight and the other toed in. Also toe CAN NOT cause a car to pull. Camber, caster, or tires can.
 
WHATEVER method you use, just keep your eyes on the wear pattern & see if they're scuffing from the inside-out, or visa-versa---If they are, Common Reasoning will tell you WHICH way to make a SLIGHT correction.
Bill Straightasanarrow
 
I adjusted mine to my best effort , then took it to alignment shop for 4 wheel alignment .

it was so close they told me to go home as I didn't need anything done .
 
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